Method of removing a cutting chamber from a cold planer

ABSTRACT

A method of removing a cutting chamber from a cold planer is disclosed. The method initiates with disconnecting the cutting chamber from a frame of the cold planer. Thereafter, the frame of the cold planer is raised to a height above the cutting chamber. After raising, the cold planer is maneuvered to a second location. More specifically, the cold planer is maneuvered in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel so that the cutting chamber is no longer under the cold planer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a method of removing a cutting chamber from a cold planer.

BACKGROUND

Various machines, such as cold planers, are commonly known to employ a rotary cutter system, to perform milling operations on a work surface. The rotary cutter system generally facilitates removal of a paved area on the work surface, such as a paved area laid over a road, a bridge, and/or a parking area. Commonly, the rotary cutter system includes a cutting chamber that performs milling operations on the work surface. The cutting chamber includes a drum, which contains rows of tool holders. Each tool holder receives a cutting tool therein. Customarily, the drum is driven by a motor at a high rate of rotation and the cutting tools, which are fixed to the drum within their tool holders, impact the work surface as the rotating drum is lowered and brought into contact with the work surface. As the cutting tools contact the work surface, pieces or fragments of pavement are spun off and the pavement is removed through successive passes of the cutting tools of the cutting chamber. The spun off particles are directed to an enclosed portion of a cutter enclosure which generally encloses the cutting tools. The particles are generally directed towards the center of the machine within this cutter enclosure and are loaded onto the machine's conveyor belt to be loaded onto a haul vehicle to be hauled away. Cutting tools are subject to extreme abrasion and impact and may become loose or may break off during operation of the cutting chamber. The loss of one or more of the cutting tools from the tool holders fixed to the drum causes a decrease in productivity and if not addressed the tool holders and the drum may be subjected to damage and loss. Therefore, the cutting chamber is periodically removed from the machine for regular inspection and maintenance. Additionally, the cutting chamber may require to be replaced with a new cutting chamber with different specifications, for different operational requirements of the machine. In such situations, the cutting chamber is removed from the machine for chamber replacement.

Conventional methods of removing the cutting chamber from the machine includes disconnecting the cutting chamber from a frame of the machine, raising the frame of the machine vertically, and then dragging and displacing the cutting chamber to a different location. However, dragging the cutting chamber to the different location may require some special equipment or machinery, which may be expensive. Further, this method of removal of the cutting chamber may cause significant wear and damage to the cutting chamber. Furthermore reinstalling the cutting chamber on the machine may also require dragging the cutter drum underneath the machine. This may result in relatively lower life of the cutting chamber.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,942,604 discloses a propulsion system for a road-milling machine, to facilitate removal of a cutter drum from the machine. The propulsion system angularly displaces a front pair of crawler assemblies in one angular direction and a rear pair of crawler assemblies in an opposite angular direction, to facilitate a lateral displacement of the road-milling machine. Although the present disclosure discusses the lateral movement of the road-milling machine to facilitate removal of the cutter drum, this method may cause slipping of the crawler assemblies and may result in undesired wear of the crawler assemblies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards a method removing a cutter chamber from a cold planer. The method initiates with disconnecting the cutter chamber from a frame of the cold planer. Thereafter, the frame of the cold planer is raised to a height above the cutting chamber. After raising, the cold planer is maneuvered in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel so that the cutting chamber is no longer under the cold planer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary cold planer positioned at a first location that illustrates a cutting chamber and a number of drive units oriented in a first position, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cold planer positioned at the first location illustrating the drive units oriented in a second position, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cold planer positioned at the first location and raised vertically with the drive units oriented in the second position, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cold planer positioned at a second location with the drive units oriented in the second position, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method of removing a cutter chamber from the cold planer, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a cold planer 10. The cold planer 10 includes a frame 12, a machine body 14, a cutting chamber 16, four drive units 18, and a chamber disassembly system 20. A cross-section 22 of the machine body 14 illustrates the chamber disassembly system 20 of the cold planer 10 in FIG. 1.

The frame 12 is a rectangular support structure that supports various components of the cold planer 10. For example, the frame 12 supports the cutting chamber 16 of the cold planer 10. The frame 12 includes a frontal end 24, a rear end 26, a first side portion 28, and a second side portion 30.

The machine body 14 is a support structure installed on the frame 12. The machine body 14 extends between the frontal end 24 and the rear end 26 of the frame 12, along a direction of travel, A. Additionally, the machine body 14 extends between the first side portion 28 and the second side portion 30, in a lateral direction, B (FIG. 2). The machine body 14 houses the chamber disassembly system 20 (as shown in the cross-section 22) of the cold planer 10. In addition, the machine body 14 supports a control panel 32 of the cold planer 10. In general, the machine body 14 facilitates an operator to stand on the machine body 14 and access the control panel 32, to control one or more functions of the cold planer 10.

The cutting chamber 16 is a rotary cutter chamber of the cold planer 10. The cutting chamber 16 includes a number of mechanical components, such as but not limited to, a rotary drum, a number of cutter tool bits, and associated components, which in conjunction facilitates a cutting operation on ground surface (not shown). The cutting chamber 16 is attached to and supported by the frame 12. Moreover, the cutting chamber 16 includes a number of brackets 34 (FIG. 4) that attaches to the frame 12, to facilitate an attachment between the cutting chamber 16 and the frame 12. Various known means of attachment between the brackets 34 and the frame 12 may be contemplated, such as but not limited to, a bolt attachment, a threaded attachment, or a rivet attachment.

The drive units 18 support the frame 12 and are adapted to maneuver the cold planer 10 from one location to another. The drive units 18 are exemplarily shown as four in number, namely a first frontal drive unit 36, a second frontal drive unit 38, a first rear drive unit 40, and a second rear drive unit 42 (FIG. 4). Although, the drive units 18 are described as four in number, a varied number of the drive units 18, may also be contemplated. Each of the drive units 18 supports the frame 12 at each corner of the frame 12. Each of the drive units 18 includes a track unit 44 and a track-adjusting unit 46.

The track unit 44 is a ground engaging unit of the cold planer 10 that facilitates maneuvering of the cold planer 10 from one location to another. Moreover, the track unit 44 is rotatable about a vertical axis, Y and is adapted to orient in a number of positions. More specifically, the track unit 44 is adapted to orient in a first position and a second position. The first position of the track unit 44 being parallel to the direction of travel, A, of the cold planer 10. The second position of the track unit 44 is perpendicular to the direction of travel, A of the cold planer 10. In the first position, the track unit 44 maneuvers the cold planer 10 in the direction of travel, A. In the second position, the track unit 44 maneuvers the cold planer 10 in a lateral direction, B, as is shown in FIG. 2. Moreover, the track unit 44 is adjusted, with use of the track-adjusting unit 46.

The track-adjusting unit 46 may be an elongated telescopic actuator that mounts the track unit 44 to the frame 12 of the cold planer 10. In the current embodiment, the track-adjusting unit 46 includes a first end 48 and a second end 50. The first end 48 is rotatably attached to the frame 12 of the cold planer 10. The second end 50 is fixedly attached to the track unit 44. The track-adjusting unit 46 is adapted to rotate, about the vertical axis, Y, to adjust the track unit 44 between the first position and the second position. Additionally, the track-adjusting unit 46 is adapted to extend and retract, to facilitate vertical movement of the frame 12 of the cold planer 10, along the vertical axis, Y.

The chamber disassembly system 20 is a combination of several electronic components that facilitates an activation of a chamber disassembly mode of the cold planer 10. Deactivation of the chamber disassembly system 20 corresponds to deactivation of the chamber disassembly mode of the cold planer 10. In the deactivated state of the chamber disassembly mode, the track unit 44 is maintained in the first position (parallel to the direction of travel, A) of and cannot be moved to the second position (perpendicular to the direction of travel, A). Actuation of the chamber disassembly system 20 corresponds to activation of the chamber disassembly mode of the cold planer 10. In the activated state of the chamber disassembly mode, the chamber disassembly system 20 moves the track unit 44 from the first position (parallel to the direction of travel, A) to the second position (perpendicular to the direction of travel, A).

The chamber disassembly system 20 is connected to the drive units 18 of the cold planer 10. More specifically, the chamber disassembly system 20 is connected to the track unit 44 and the track-adjusting unit 46 of each of the drive units 18. The chamber disassembly system 20 is adapted to rotate the track-adjusting unit 46, to switch the track unit 44 from the first position to the second position. Additionally, the chamber disassembly system 20 is adapted to actuate the track-adjusting unit 46, to raise the cold planer 10 vertically, along the vertical axis, Y. Moreover, the chamber disassembly system 20 is adapted to actuate the track unit 44, to maneuver the cold planer 10 from a first location to a second location, in the lateral direction, B. The chamber disassembly system 20 follows a method 52 (FIG. 5), to remove the cutting chamber 16 from the cold planer 10.

Before initiating the method 52 (FIG. 5) of removing the cutting chamber 16, the cold planer 10 is positioned at the first location and the track unit 44 of each of the drive units 18 is oriented in the first position. The cold planer 10 positioned at a first location with the drive units 18 oriented in the first position, is shown in FIG. 1. The method 52 (FIG. 5) initiates with actuating the chamber disassembly system 20, to actuate the chamber disassembly mode. Upon actuation of the chamber disassembly mode, the control panel 32 is disabled and the drive units 18 are automatically steered, with use of the chamber disassembly system 20. More specifically, the chamber disassembly system 20 rotates the track-adjusting unit 46 of each of the drive units 18, to adjust the track unit 44 from the first position (parallel to the direction of travel, A) to the second position (perpendicular to the direction of travel, B).

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the cold planer 10 positioned in the first location and the drive units 18 oriented in the second position. In the second position, the track unit 44 is perpendicular to the first position of the track units 44. Additionally, the track unit 44 is aligned in the lateral direction, B, in the second position of the track unit 44. After positioning the track unit 44 to the second position, the cutting chamber 16 is disconnected from the frame 12 of the cold planer 10. Although, the present disclosure contemplates manual disconnection of the cutting chamber 16 from the frame 12 of the cold planer 10, an automatic disconnection of the cutting chamber 16 from the frame 12 with use of the chamber disassembly system 20 may also be contemplated. After disconnection, the chamber disassembly system 20 actuates the track-adjusting unit 46, to raise the frame 12 of the cold planer 10, vertically. More specifically, the track-adjusting unit 46 raises the frame 12 of the cold planer 10 to a height above the cutting chamber 16 of the cold planer 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown the cold planer 10 positioned in the first location and vertically raised. When the cold planer 10 is raised, the cutting chamber 16 is dislodged from the cold planer 10. Thereafter, the chamber disassembly system 20 actuates the track unit 44, to maneuver the cold planer 10 from the first location to the second location, in the lateral direction, B (perpendicular to the direction of travel, A).

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown the cold planer 10 positioned in the second location. As the cold planer 10 is maneuvered to the second location, the cutting chamber 16 is removed from the cold planer 10 and is accessible to an operator. Thereafter, the chamber disassembly system 20 is deactivated, to deactivate the chamber disassembly mode of the cold planer 10. Upon deactivation of the chamber disassembly mode, the chamber disassembly system 20 rotates the track unit 44 of each of the drive units 18, from the second position (perpendicular to the direction of travel, A) to the first position (parallel to the direction of travel, A).

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a flowchart of the method 52 of removing the cutting chamber 16 from the cold planer 10. The method 52 initiates at step 54.

At step 54, the chamber disassembly mode is actuated. The chamber disassembly mode is actuated by actuating the chamber disassembly system 20 of the cold planer 10. Upon actuation of the chamber disassembly mode, the chamber disassembly system 20 rotates the track unit 44 of each of the drive units 18 from the first position to the second position. More specifically, the chamber disassembly system 20 rotates the track-adjusting unit 46, to adjust the track unit 44 from the first position to the second position. The method 52 then proceeds to step 56.

At step 56, the cutting chamber 16 is disconnected from the frame 12 of the cold planer 10. More specifically, the brackets 34 of the cutting chamber 16 are disconnected from the frame 12, to facilitate a disconnection of the cutting chamber 16 from the frame 12 of the cold planer 10. The method 52 then proceeds to step 58.

At step 58, the chamber disassembly system 20 raises the frame 12 of the cold planer 10, along the vertical axis, Y. The chamber disassembly system 20 raises the frame 12 of the cold planer 10 to a height above the cutting chamber 16. More specifically, the chamber disassembly system 20 actuates the track-adjusting unit 46, to raise the cold planer 10, vertically. The method 52 then proceeds to step 60.

At step 60, the chamber disassembly system 20 maneuvers the cold planer 10 from the first location to the second location, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel, A. More specifically, the chamber disassembly system 20 actuates the track unit 44, to maneuver the cold planer 10 in the lateral direction, B. The method 52 then proceeds to step 62.

At step 62, the chamber disassembly mode of the cold planer 10 is deactivated. More specifically, the chamber disassembly system 20 of the cold planer 10, is deactivated. Upon deactivation of the chamber disassembly mode of the cold planer 10, the chamber disassembly system 20 rotates the track unit 44 from the second position to the first position.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In operation, an operator may initially operate the cold planer 10 in a normal mode of operation. In the normal mode of operation is active, the operator steers the drive units 18 corresponding to a user input obtained at the control panel 32 of the cold planer 10. After prolonged and continuous operations of the cold planer 10, the cold planer 10 may require to be serviced. During service of the cold planer 10, the cutting chamber 16 may require to be removed and accessed by the operator. In certain other situations, such as chamber replacement, the cutting chamber 16 may require to be removed and accessed by the operator. The operator therefore performs the method 52, to remove and access the cutting chamber 16 of the cold planer 10. Before initiating the method 52, the operator initially positions the cold planer 10 at the first location and adjusts the track unit 44 of each of the drive units 18 to the first position.

To perform the method 52 of removing and accessing the cutting chamber 16, the operator initially activates the chamber disassembly system 20, to actuate the chamber disassembly mode of operation of the cold planer 10. In the chamber disassembly mode, the control panel 32 is disabled and the drive units 18 are steered, with use of the chamber disassembly system 20. More specifically, the chamber disassembly system 20 rotates the track-adjusting unit 46 of each of the drive units 18, to adjust the track unit 44 from the first position to the second position, as shown in FIG. 2. Thereafter, the operator disconnects the cutting chamber 16 from the frame 12 of the cold planer 10. This is accomplished by disassembling the brackets 34 from the frame 12 of the cold planer 10. After disconnection, the chamber disassembly system 20 actuates the track-adjusting unit 46 of each drive unit 18, to raise the frame 12 of the cold planer 10 vertically. Notably, the track-adjusting unit 46 raises the frame 12 of the cold planer 10 to a height above the cutting chamber 16. Once the cold planer 10 is raised, the chamber disassembly system 20 actuates the track unit 44, to maneuver the cold planer 10 from the first location to the second location. Notably, the chamber disassembly system 20 maneuvers the cold planer 10, along the lateral direction, B (perpendicular to the direction of travel, A). As the cold planer 10 is maneuvered to the second location, the cutting chamber 16 is removed off from the cold planer 10 and is accessible to the operator. Therefore, this method 52 facilities removing and accessing of the cutting chamber 16, without dragging the cutting chamber 16. This results in increased work life of the cutting chamber 16 of the cold planer 10. Although, the cold planer 10 is described as a preferred embodiment, concepts of the present disclosure may be applied to several other machines, such as but not limited to, a reclaiming machine and a wheeled cold planer.

It should be understood that the above description is intended for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other aspects of the disclosure may be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claim. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of removing a cutting chamber from a cold planer, the method comprising: disconnecting the cutting chamber from a frame of the cold planer; raising the frame of the cold planer to a height above the cutting chamber; maneuvering the cold planer in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel so that the cutting chamber is no longer under the cold planer.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a chamber disassembly mode, wherein the chamber disassembly mode allows a ground engaging unit to be moved substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising deactivating the chamber disassembly mode, wherein the ground engaging unit cannot be moved substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel. 